Anti-NGSS bill in Iowa

House File 140, introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives on January 31, 2017, and referred to the House Education Committee, would, if enacted, prohibit the state board of education from "adopting, approving, or requiring implementation of the [N]ext [G]eneration [S]cience [S]tandards by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools."

The lead sponsor of House File 140 is Sandy Salmon (R-District 63). In 2015, Salmon introduced House File 272, which would have prevented Iowa from adopting the NGSS, in part because they "present evolution as scientific fact and shine a negative light on human impacts on climate change," according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette (March 2, 2015).

House File 272 died in committee. Later in 2015, the Iowa state board of education voted unanimously to adopt the NGSS, despite a few comments objecting to their treatment of evolution and climate change. In 2016, Salmon introduced House File 2054, which would have reversed the state's decision to adopt the NGSS; that bill also died in committee.